Another year has gone by so quickly, it was like the blink of an eye. On Oahu, real estate has had some ups and downs, but we have not seen the steep declines many other cities in the U.S. have experienced. I figure, as long as we live on this tropical paradise in the middle of the warm Pacific Ocean surrounded by sparkling sands and crystal blue waters, Hawaii will at least be a destination for many years to come. When you live in such a beautiful place, a place where most people dream of visiting, you can count yourself pretty luck—at least I do.
I can’t say that the year has been a breeze or without some major setbacks and disappointments, but overall, it could have been much worse. My brother lives in Las Vegas in a house he bought in 2006—it is now worth half of what he paid and even though it is painful to pay monthly on a house that he fears may never get that high in price again, he continues to try to stay afloat in a trying economy.
I have spoken to hundreds of people over the past year and I have seen a common thread that has permeated our lives as well as the lives of those around us—times are tough for everyone. I have heard that over and over, even from the people who were quite successful 6 years ago. The other thread I have seen and heard is a hard lesson learned and an appreciation for the simple joys of life, like family, friends, and laughter.
What I have gathered in real estate is very similar, people have been kinder and negotiations have been calmer and less chaotic. I guess we sometimes see some good things come out of extreme hardship and struggle. It reminds us that we are not alone and that we should always try to empathize with our fellow humans.
Real estate has been more stable and the feeling on the streets is that we need more inventory to sell, so if you have thought about selling, now is the time. For more information on our ever changing real estate market, email me kelly.lee@hawaiiife.com, or continue browsing for Hawaii Real Estate.
Kelly A. Lee, (R), e-PRO, CHMS
Realtor-Broker
Hawaii Life Real Estate
Phone: 808.225.0349
Fax: 866.590.3144
www.hawaiilife.com
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